Power Outage

We're in the middle of a terrible heat wave...close to 100 F through the day and not much cooler at night.  I was talking to Mary yesterday and joking about what I'd do if the power went out and I was left without air conditioning.  Well, darned if the power didn't go out around 6:30 last night.

I felt slightly panicked because the apartment very quickly started to heat up.  I don't remember my house losing it's cool that fast when we had a summer power outage but that could just be my imagination.  Anyway, I ventured out on the balcony to wait it out and was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful cool breeze that greeted me.  We always get a lovely breeze because there are no other buildings blocking it.  The other apartment buildings lay to the right of my building.

It was interesting to see how many people went out to sit on their balconies...I rarely see anyone out there and I like to sit out in the evening.  What surprised me most was how many balconies in sight were vacant.  Were all those tenants out somewhere?  It was so nice outside that I figured I'd sleep on my balcony if the power didn't come back on.  It's nice to know that's an option.

As I sat out there I thought of things I could be doing...like getting the car seat out of my car in preparation for going to N.B. on Thursday.  But with no power, there's no elevator and I'm on the 6th floor.  Then I thought of just going shopping for a while...but, again, no elevator and if the power was still off when I came home I'd have to walk up 6 flights.  No-no!

And so I spent a couple of hours sitting in the cool breeze on the balcony and feeling very grateful for it.

Corky's Growths

I e-mailed Shelley today to verify when this incident occurred but she didn't reply...must be embarrassed!  LOL!

Shelley is now a nurse practitioner but when she had just started nursing school she didn't know near as much as she thought she did.  One day she took me aside and in a gentle voice calmly explained to me that she'd found growths on our dog, Corky's, stomach.  Of course we were both scared to death because Corky was not just a dog...he was an important member of our family.

I called Corky into the room and had him lie on his side so Shelley could show me the growths.  They were his nipples.

I still laugh today when I think of this.  Maybe Shelley doesn't.  I don't think she did at the time, either.

Packed

We're not leaving until early Thursday morning but I'm about 95% packed already.  I have 2 garment bags with outfits for every day plus a couple of extras and I've half filled my large overnight bag with undies, nightie, housecoat, closed in shoes, and cosmetic bag...pills and a few odd little items still to pack on Wednesday.  I'm taking a jacket in case of cooler weather, too.  It looks like I won't even need my little suitcase.

When Dennis and I had the boat, I learned how to pack efficiently and not to overpack.  I have to admit I have tons of clothes so it's easy for me to pack well ahead of time.

I look at packing as an art form.  By hanging pants and matching top on one hanger you don't even have to decide at the last minute what goes with what.  I always keep a cosmetic bag with almost everything I'll need in my overnight bag.  It's a huge one I bought at Joann's Fabrics last winter...it's really for crafts but it is perfect as an overnight bag.

I'm also going to do some grocery shopping tomorrow for fruit, water, and snackies to take with us.  And I must not forget to get some money out of the bank...the U.S. money is going to break my heart because our dollar has dropped to $1.34 for a U.S. dollar.  

The reunion is going to be so much fun but I bet it will be over before we know it.  The good memories will go on forever, though.   

Trip to N.B.

I'm not sure how long the reunion in New Brunswick next week has been planned but, as usual, our plans to attend have changed many, many times.

Nick is going with Kim and me now and that's a pleasant surprise.  I assumed 3 drivers would make the trip easier until I found out that Nick and Kim didn't want me driving...in my own car!  They think I drive too slow!

Anyway, not only the car inhabitants and the motel has changed but so has the route.  It seems we are now going to cross over to the States in Montreal.  I have 2 trip tiks from CAA and neither show us crossing over in Montreal.  I think we're going to be winging it.

Nick also has some strange idea that the 900 mile trip can be done in 13 hours.  I'm flabbergasted!  Dennis and I made that trip many times years ago and it takes close to 18 hours...and Dennis was a madman at the wheel.  I know Nick is a good driver but he still has Hammond blood in him so I'm a little worried.

I'm looking forward to the reunion...no so much the trip. 

The Power of Music

I've gotten into the habit of listening to the music channel on T.V. in the morning.  I used to turn the T.V. on first thing even if I wasn't watching it and halfway listen to whatever programs came on while I read the newspaper or played on the computer but I find listening to the "oldies" or "old country" makes me feel just wonderful.

I bop along to whatever is playing, seemingly unable to keep still as the music flows through my body to my shoulders and feet.  It got me wondering how rap music affects people who like it...not me...and I wondered how their bodies move to it.  I shouldn't call rap music because it isn't.

I'll bet humans have been making music of some kind since neanderthal times.  We need it.  I've read that slaves would sing in the fields to lift their spirits from the drudgery they were experiencing.  Churches use music to draw in their flocks.

Donna's grandson, Ryan, is considering a career in music therapy and I think he will do well.  It's no secret that music is used in nursing homes to try to keep the elderly from sinking too low into themselves.  Even an advanced Alzheimer patient will respond to music.  It's magical.

I have the "oldies" music on now and it brings back some lovely memories of my life at that time.  There are particular songs that bring back physical memories, too.  "Summertime" reminds my body of sunshine and summer breezes on my young body.  Music reminds my feet how they used to move to the beat, jiving till the early hours of the morning and never being tired.  

Some people want to be soothed by gentle music or operas but not me.  I like both but prefer upbeat songs.  Maybe if I was just reading I'd like the quiet stuff but not normally.  

And so I'll spend the morning playing on the computer (my work is done), listening to my music, and bopping along to it.

Life is good!

Grief

When someone we love or care for dies there is a time of grief that follows.  It's sometimes unbearable to realize we'll never see that loved one again, at least not on this earth.  I believe the very worst kind of grief is when we lose a child.  In the natural order of things, it should be the parent who dies first but so often the opposite happens.  It's a situation I can't allow myself to think too deeply on because I think it would kill me.

I've seen many adults who have suffered the loss of a child and, at first, it seems they've also lost their own life spirit.  But with the support of family and friends, they do survive and are able to carry on happy lives.  It's the miracle of the human spirit to absorb tremendous grief and to heal itself.  The parent will never again be the same person, though, because such a gut wrenching loss changes them forever.  That they survive at all is an amazing thing.

I believe in some sort of life after death and I believed in it long before I saw evidence of it.  If we really knew that we'd some day find our dearly departed we could handle the temporary loss so I hope I'm right.

In the meantime, allow yourself to grieve for as long as it takes.  Sometimes you might have to pretend you're healing even if it hasn't happened yet.  Everyone grieves in their own way and in their own time but most of us will heal and have happiness in our lives.  It just takes time.   

Why Do I Cry?

Some things I really wonder about.  Like, when I was younger (and now) parades made me cry, especially the bagpipes...and I'm Irish!

I cry at happy stories, sad stories, stories from or about people I don't even know (even on T.V.).  I cry at the sight of a beautiful flower garden.  If you cry, I cry even if I have no idea what you're crying about.

Sweet and loving scenes will make me cry.  Violence scares me into tears...so does my own anger.  Sad thoughts can make me cry, too.  Beautiful music will draw tears before the first chord is sung or played.

Strangest of all is that being surprised makes me cry...even if the surprise isn't for me.

I used to associate this with depression but those years are long gone.  Now I associate it with old age and that's something I'll never outlive.

I believe I am empathetic to a fault so I wonder about it but realize I may never know why so many things make me cry.  I may also be a terribly sensitive soul but that's something I'd rather be than a cold, impersonal one.

In any case, if any of my descendants read this and wonder why they cry at the drop of a hat, they got it from me. 

Bruce Jenner

There is no hatred in me for transsexuals.  I just don't understand them at all and feel terribly sorry for them.  But, Bruce Jenner is not a woman.  He is a man who has had extensive surgery and who is taking hormones to appear female.  He is still a man.

Stories of transsexuals are all over the media these days and I know why.  It's to desensitize us to what we know is abnormal but to accept it as normal.  It's not.

I watched a documentary the other night about gays and transsexuals that had me so confused I couldn't figure out who was what.  One transsexual female to male took a respite from male hormones so that she/he/? could get pregnant.  Once the baby was born, he/she started back on the hormones.  I was baffled because his/her mate was also a female to male transsexual.  Can anyone explain how this could be normal and what the hell it means?

I adhere to the live and let live philosophy but I'll be damned if I can understand these people.  I guess I don't have to understand them, though, but I sure wish they'd stop having or adopting babies.  I know there are people who don't agree with me but I just tell it the way I see it.   

Old Friends

I sort of go with the flow, keeping old friends but gathering new ones along the way.  The trouble with that is that I often don't make too much of an effort to keep in touch with the old ones.  I guess I assume they'll always be there but that's not wise of me.

Shelley always amazed me when she'd be the one who made that effort to draw as many of her old friends together when she visited back home.  They'd all have a wonderful time reminiscing about their school days and filling everyone in on what was happening right then in their lives.  

In my latter years, I find that spending time with old friends means more and more to me.  It's nice to have a history together that we can yak about.

I had lunch with Norma today and it was just great.  We've only been friends for about 15 years and have spent very little time together.  When we do, I wonder why in the world I wait so long to see this terrific lady.  

I often wonder what some of my childhood friends are doing and regret not keeping in touch.  They've drifted away into marriages and changed surnames so they're not easy to find.  Now, if I'd made the effort years ago, we'd probably still be in touch.  If only!

As we get older, we lose some of our friends to distance or death, so it's important to hang on to those we love.  I've met seniors who lived only for their husbands and never made outside friends.  When they lost their husbands, they were lost and lonely.  Friends, good friends, make our lives richer and more interesting.

I was discouraged from having friends outside the family when my husband was alive so now I've found a whole new and wonderful world full of good friends that make my life a better one.  Our paths and interests might not be the same but we seem to meet on some middle ground that agrees with both sides.  Having the computer to keep in touch with friends who live far away also helps.  I'm not much of a telephone person but e-mails suit me just fine most of the time.

Some old friends I see only on Facebook because age and distance has become a barrier.  Even so, it's pleasant to keep in contact even that way.

One thing that saddens me in a way is that I've met a few ladies here in my apartment building who are very nice but their lives wrap around playing cards every day and sometimes twice a day.  That's not anything I care to do.  When I'm in Florida, I play cards 4 nights a week and enjoy it but that's just through the winter.  None of us are serious players and I go for the laughs more than the games.  It's also a wonderful group of ladies we play cards with.

My plans for when I don't winter in Florida are to go to the senior center 3-4 days a week but more for crafts than cards.  I won't be staying home and feeling sorry for myself, that's for sure.  And I bet there are people I'll meet who are future fun friends, too!

The $1.33 Dollar

It's been worse in previous years but then we had quite a few years when our Canadian dollar was close to par with the U.S. dollar.  Today we have to pay $1.33 Canadian for $1.00 U.S. and that made me change my travel plans to New Brunswick at the end of the month.  I'd planned to cross over at Cornwall and drive through the States to New Brunswick but now I see no real advantage to doing that.

Kim figured we lose only an hour driving up through northern Quebec and then down to St. Stephen, N.B. so that's what we're going to do.  It saves paying tolls and buying U.S. funds.  I wonder how many Canadians will decide against vacationing in the States now that our dollar is so bad?

I've had a little worry in my mind about what my Florida lot rent is going to cost me and when the price becomes too high to be worthwhile.  It may be my last winter in Florida.  Poor Florida is going to be hit hard if too many Canadians decide to stay home or winter in Mexico or some other warm place.  I'm too old to begin anew somewhere besides my little trailer park in Florida but it's still only for a few more years at best.

There comes a time in everyone's life when we have to make drastic changes.  Sometimes we get to make those changes when we choose and sometimes circumstances choose for us.

Can't Take Late Nights

Faye and I spent a long weekend at Mary's and enjoyed ourselves immensely, as usual, but playing Rummicubes until mid mornings just about killed me.  It completely threw off my wake-up schedule, too, and I do love seeing the sun rise.

We did some shopping on Friday and I bought a few artificial flowers for the apartment...they were perfect for the spots I'd planned.  Then we went to the casino on Saturday and I thoroughly enjoyed the day even though I lost all my money.  Both Faye and Mary won quite a bit.

We lounged around on Sunday and babysat Don and Mary's greatgrandbaby, Laila (?), for a few hours.  She's 6 months old and a beautiful little redhead.  Then we went to our favorite little Chinese restaurant for dinner.

Monday was another lazy morning with coffee on the deck until Faye and I left for a side trip to see Ken and Pat.  Pat is so ill but still so cheery and enjoying company.  They have strong religious beliefs that are seeing them through this sad time but I can't help but feel how unfair it is for them.  They have such a lovely life together.

I slept for 2 hours when I got home and even had 2 2 hour naps on Tuesday trying to make up for the loss of sleep over the weekend.  Faye said she'd going to get Valerie to write her a note to take out to Mary saying she's not allowed to stay up late.  I wonder if Kim would write me a note, too?

I think I caught up on my sleep, though, because I was up and moving at 6 A.M. this morning and feel as though I'm back to normal.  Getting old means we can't strain our physical resources and then bounce back easily.  We have to consider ourselves lucky that we're still here and having fun...just as long as the fun ends before midnight.

Checking In With Sylvia

Back at the park in Florida, Sylvia and I would weigh in every Wednesday to encourage a continued weight loss.  Once home in Canada, we weigh ourselves every Wednesday and e-mail each other with the results.  Mine have been pretty stagnant since I got home but the last 2 weeks I gained 4 lbs total for the 2 weeks.  My total weight loss since using Sensa is now down to only 18 lbs. from a high of 25 lbs. and it has me very worried.

I don't think I'm eating anything different than I was before but I've been very tired lately and started napping often twice a day and sometimes for long periods.  I think it might be the inactivity that is causing the weight gain but I don't know if I can manage without at least one nap a day.  There is stress in my life just as there is in everyone else's but stress tires me out.  It seems to wear me down and, of course, I'm no spring chicken.  Anyway, things are going to have to change because I couldn't stand it if I gained all that damned weight back again!

I didn't e-mail Sylvia for two weeks because I was ashamed of myself but she's a wonderful friend who will support me through this, I know.  I'll keep on trying until I get back on track.    

New Lights

I was notified by our building superintendant that new, more cost efficient bulbs would be put into each apartment.  What they didn't tell me was that they would be replacing the ceiling fixtures and mine were really nice.  The new ones are plain but I have to admit they provide a heck of a lot more light.  Not only that, but the superintendant will be responsible for replacing the bulbs when they expire after about 800 hours use.  They really are cost efficient!

They really aren't bulbs but some kind of battery operated do-hicky that requires the whole unit to be replaced when the time comes.  Interesting!

I do miss the old ceiling light fixtures that were more ornate and probably installed by some former tenant because they were much too pretty to be standard issue.  It's okay, though, because the new ones are brighter.

This apartment living has been full of surprises for me.  I didn't realize that we had a dumpster so could put garbage out any day.  I thought the building owners were responsible for replacing the old, scratched up sink and dated faucet but they're not.  I had to pay for that.  I thought mail would be deposited in a box in the lobby but it's slipped right through a slot on my apartment door (I don't know how long that will last now that the post office is installing big boxes on street corners).

All in all, I've found apartment living to be very pleasant.  Mine is a mainly senior building so there is very little noise.  It's also an older building and well built at the time.

I've lived here almost 2 years and there has never been one second that I was sorry I'd sold the house and moved here.  I guess that's a good thing!

Bullying in Marriage

When I was a young girl I always stepped in and put a stop to bullies.  I don't know why none of them turned on me except they knew I wouldn't allow it.  

The closest case of bullying I've seen in recent years was when I'd hired a family friend to do some work in my basement.  He brought his wife over one evening (I'd known her since she was a young teen) to keep me company while he worked.

She is a very timid woman who has put up with his bullying for years...all of which I'd heard of but never seen.  At some point she said something very innocuous and he lit into her like a bomb going off.  I was stunned by the ferocity in his verbal attack but she acted as though nothing was happening.  That was probably her defense mechanism because to react might have brought physical harm.  She just kept talking as though he'd said nothing and that shocked me just as much.

He was the age of my children and I'd known him since he was a child but never seen this side of him.  I kept quiet...not because I was afraid of him but because I wanted my basement finished.  That's shameful on my part and I accept that.  I did mentally vow to have a good long talk with him after he'd finished my basement but even that didn't happen.  He never finished the basement!

He's the one who walked out on me and left my basement torn apart because I got mad at him after he'd taken almost a year and not come close to finishing the work.  

Anyway, I often think about his wife and wonder how awful her married life must be.  Apparently she thinks its better than being alone.  I know a lot of women live in marriages like this, being abused and still hanging in there.  I hope my own daughters and granddaughters have enough personal pride that they never choose abusive partners.

I think this man is filled with his own insecurities.  People like him often choose a wife who has little self worth because a strong woman would never let him get away with it.  Bullies only pick on someone weaker than themselves, whether it be a stranger or a spouse, friend or family.  Bullies won't attack someone stronger than they are because, truthfully, bullies are cowards.

But, I still should have spoken up all those years ago and stopped the abuse even if he didn't come back to work on the basement.  As it turned out, he didn't anyway and I had to hire someone else.  I'm still angry about that!

I Won't Be Here

Kim and I both had a teary moment as we chatted yesterday.  We were talking about how much of a genius our Nolan is and how we're assuming he'll become an engineer of some sort when he grows up.  I said that it was so sad that I won't live long enough to see that because, if I'm lucky, I probably only have about 10 years left.  It's true.  It's a fact of life and there's no getting around it.

I wasn't teary because I'll die one day but because I'd love to see what kind of men my little Nolan and Nash become and I know I probably won't live that long.  Again, it's a fact of life.

I try not to dwell on how little time I have left and, instead, feel gratitude that I've lived as long as I have.  I've had such wonderful experiences in my lifetime, some sorrow, but a whole heck of a lot of fun.  It's a good thing to enjoy the moment!

Back to Nolan.  He'll be 6 years old on Friday and he's a Lego aficionado supreme.  He can't read yet but he'll study the pictures of Lego projects and be able to follow them...he also remembers how many pieces he has of any one piece.  I think he has inherited his Grampa Dennis' skill.  Dennis would have adored this kid and taught him so much.

When I pass on to that garden in the sky, I feel confident that Nash and Nolan will be left in the good hands of his parents and grandparents, uncles and aunts.  I'm satisfied with that.

Priorities

I like to think I've become wiser and smarter with age but I'm shaped by the whole of the almost 75 years that I've lived...prejudices and all.  I see plenty that is obviously wrong with this world and I also see how much effort is put into righting small wrongs instead of targeting larger, more important ones.

Right now the left wing (I'm middle of the road) people are raising a ruckus about the confederate flag and whether or not it should be abolished because of what it might or might not represent.  Now, my way of thinking is that we have far more important issues, one of which I think is way overdue being dealt with and that is the punishment given to pedophiles who most often ruin the lives of innocent children.

I don't give a rat's ass if someone doesn't want the confederate flag flown but I deeply care that pedophiles are given token slaps on the wrist for horrendous crimes against little children.  Why are we wasting time trying to pass laws to banish a flag when we can't keep pedophiles locked away forever which would keep our precious children safe?

Why are we allowing some immigrants into our beautiful country who start demanding we change our traditions to pacify them?  Why do our laws punish an embezzler far harsher than they do a murderer?  How can a pedophile/rapist/incestuous bastard be given an 8 year prison sentence, serve only 1/3, and then walk out to damage our children once again?  Why can't some store clerks wish their customer's a Merry Christmas?  Why do we allow terrorists' families to remain in our country and collect welfare while the terrorists are imprisoned?

And some people think we should take time to abolish a piece of cloth because 200 years ago it flew over a part of the country that practiced slavery?  

I'm done ranting because it's not a happy place to be.

Choices

I love reading Facebook in the morning...little blurbs about what's going on in my family and friends' lives.  One of the things I enjoy, too, are the sayings that make you either smile or stop and think.  I especially like the ones that tell us we have choices in our lives how to deal with every day events.

We'll always have troubles of one kind or another but it makes a huge difference how we choose to let them affect us.  The older we get, the more we realize that most problems fade away in time and most problems never amounted to what we feared they would.  I used to over-react to every little blip in my life until I learned to quiet my mind for a moment to truly digest what was happening.  Then I was able to make a choice...would I fall apart or deal with it in a rational way.  Most often I remained strong.

It seems as though we're always presented with forks in the road that might not be of our own choosing and which direction we choose to follow will determine our success.  When we make the choice in a panic mode, we might not make the right choices.  Talking it out with someone you trust is also helpful.

Today, I choose to be happy and helpful.  My mind is at ease and peace surrounds me. 

Business Start?

I've been a little concerned about my Kim's confidence as she continues the process of starting her own business.  She's done all the fun stuff like getting business cards and flyers printed up but she hasn't attempted to begin contacting potential customers yet...but today one just might have fallen into her lap.

Even if this doesn't pan out, she's gained confidence in how she so easily spoke to this potential client about the plus side of him doing business with her.  She said it all came out so easily because she believes in the service she has to offer and her skills in supplying it.  You could actually see how surprised and pleased she was with herself.  Kim is a joy...she's honest, intelligent, and hard working.  She knows this but she needed a confidence boost and now she has one!

I know she'll be successful in whatever she chooses to do with her life.  She has all the support in the world from her immediate family so how could she not succeed?   

Gay Marriage

Gay marriage is now legal across the whole of the United States and it's a huge move in our culture.  I've put off writing a blog about it for a few reasons...I'm beginning to think my views are in the minority; I don't want to unnecessarily offend anyone; I don't want people to be mad at me.

I still believe strongly that everyone has a right to their beliefs but, when we become overwhelmingly in the minority, we have to stand back and take a closer look at why we hold those beliefs.  I question myself a lot so I don't blindly close my eyes and mind to what is new.  I don't blindly follow the pack, either.

My personal belief about gay marriage is that it is wrong to call it marriage.  Marriage should be a sacred commitment between a man and a woman.  Any other commitment between two men or two women could and should be called something else.  Remember that this is my personal belief and not necessarily right.

I can't seem to get my head around the majority stance that gay unions are normal.  I don't believe we were created to not be able to procreate with our partners.  That's not to say that heterosexual couples who are infertile are wrong.

I hold no anger against gay unions because I also believe that true love in any form should be pursued.  It's the "marriage" thing that irks me because it is screwing around with our traditions.  I do believe in "live and let live" as long as our traditions are respected.

I am not going to apologize for my personal beliefs.  They are what they are.  I wish no harm to the LBGT??? people but I don't think I'll ever be able to accept that this is as normal as heterosexuality.  I'll continue questioning my beliefs because that is who I am.

Who Is Responsible?

I read in today's newspaper about a small business owner who is on the brink of bankruptcy because of a completely unforeseen circumstance.  They've run a nursery for 14 years and paid all their power bills on time but once, while away for the winter, one bill of $345 went unpaid due to an oversight by the owners.  The power company shut off their power in the dead of winter which caused broken pipes and destroyed plants to the tune of half a million dollars.  Who is to blame here?  I unequivocally believe the power company is totally at fault for not having the decency to give a little slack to a long time customer who always paid his bills on time previously.

A few years ago, while I was wintering in Florida, my gas company decided it was right to turn off the gas to replace a meter.  I had a gas furnace so, if my neighbor hadn't seen what was happening, my pipes would have burst and destroyed my house.  Steve took care of my house while I was away so he was able to go inside and relight the gas furnace before any harm was done.

Common sense by the power and gas companies would have been useful here.  It seems more and more that people are losing that trait and it's causing sometimes devastating effects.  If I had a customer who'd paid their bills on time for 14 years and suddenly missed one, I'd make it a point to check further to see what was wrong.  If I ran a company that could turn off someone's heat in the middle of the winter, I wouldn't do it until I knew someone would be home to turn it back on.  It's only common sense.

Every day I see drivers swinging their vehicles all over the road endangering themselves and anyone else in their way.  They're either drunk or on their cell phones...selfish people!

I think the people who work for these big corporations forget that their customers are ordinary people who rely on their services and to disrupt them can cause untold and unnecessary loss.  In the same vein, dangerous drivers forget that they're not the center of the universe and their actions can cause the death of innocent people.

A little common sense would go a long way in making this world a better one.   

Skin Color

In the not too distant future our descendants will be ashamed of us for discriminating against someone based on skin color.  We'll be the backwards creatures with so little intelligence that we enslaved or hated people whose skin was different from our own.

Our descendants will pity us for our ignorance and be grateful they have become enlightened.  They'll choose their friends and leaders based on personality and integrity instead of even considering skin tone as a factor.

No, we're not all racists and I hope our descendants take that into consideration when judging us.

Country Divided

It's not a nice thing to think of your country, the place your ancestors called home more than a 100 years ago, splitting into 2 or even 3 separate countries.  Quebec has often been a source of disgruntled citizens wanting to separate from Canada but it's only recently that I became aware that western Canada, the prairie provinces, felt the same way.

Maybe Canada is too big.  Maybe the differences from east to west are too vast to make one cohesive country.  Maybe it's just that the grass often looks greener on the other side.  Make a change and there will be instant gratification.

I've always felt that Quebec is catered to by the rest of the country and given more than their fair share of government resources but learning that the western provinces also want out is a sad thought.  It would kind of leave little old Ontario stranded in the middle.

Would we be swallowed up by the United States?  I'm betting that would be a natural option and Canada, as a country, would disappear forever.  

Who would have thought that there was a good probability that a country as huge as Canada could actually be broken apart and disappear from the map?  I have to admit that it could happen.

New View

I moved the livingroom furniture around after buying the new recliner (it arrives in 1 1/2 weeks).  This will be my new view from the recliner.  I sure love this little apartment!

The Visit

Yesterday I went to visit a friend who is dying.  That may sound harsh but it's the truth and a fact of life.  This is a lady I've admired since I first met her, someone who has lived a decent life and raised her children on her own.  She doesn't in the slightest deserve the deal she's been given by whoever is in control of things here on earth.

I've put off visiting because I didn't want to see her in the condition she's in but that was selfish of me.  This lady wasn't supposed to live to see last Christmas but she has held on by sheer will.  Luckily, she has a wonderfully supportive husband who takes very good care of her with the help of visiting nurses and support workers.

These are god fearing people who are strong supporters of their church and both have lived their lives in exemplary ways...hard working and all that is good in human beings.  I felt they should feel some anger for their god but they haven't lost their faith, instead have drawn comfort from it.  

She's always been a cheery soul who, despite poor heath for years, never complained about her problems.  She and her husband have lived a comfortable and interesting life for the past 15 years (second marriage).  They seemed destined to be together, so happy with their second chance.

She's unable to care for herself now and has to be helped to her bed or recliner where she spends most of her time.  She has wonderful family and friends who help to fill her days so she's very lucky in that aspect.  But the worst part of her day is when she's helped into bed.  Any stress on her body at all makes her breathless but the simple act of getting from chair to bed is the time when she fears she won't recover her breath and that, to me, is simply horrible.  She faces this every single day and I don't know how she has the strength...but maybe I do...it has to come from her deep faith in her religion.

She remains the same person she's always been, one who accepts her life any way it is.  She's grateful for what she has...a good husband, family and friends and feels peace in the comfort of her religion.  I hate the way in which her body has failed her and robbed her of more good years that she richly deserves but she doesn't complain.  I'm in awe of her strength.

The best we can hope for is that she'll die peacefully in her sleep and I honestly hope she's been right all along and that there's a heaven waiting to welcome her in.    

Peace

It's true that people change in many different ways as they grow older but I'm experiencing a change I'm not sure I understand.

The weather is lovely, floors are washed and laundry is done, I have money, and I'm feeling good...but I just want to stay home and enjoy the peace and quiet of my life.  I don't want to mingle with people right now and I don't know why.

Maybe the bit of drama going on at the moment is overwhelming my senses and that's why I want to be alone.  The drama is just normal family stuff but a little intense these days through no fault of my loved ones.  I used to have to unwind after work or school in the past and this is probably my way of unwinding before jumping back into the fray.

I'm not dressed to go out, either, but wearing a pretty lounger I bought at the flea market in Florida.  Perfect for a day like this when I'm staying home!

When wanting to spend more time alone first became apparent to me, it was after I'd spent the winter in Florida where not much time is ever spent alone.  I love all that socializing but realized I also needed the mostly alone time I have when I'm back home for the summer.  It's so peaceful here in my little apartment and there is no stress whatsoever.  Anyway, it's just nice to relax without pressure to have to be somewhere else at a given time.

Could I be winding down because of my age?  It's probably more that it's just been in recent years that I've experienced pleasant alone time, not being lonely but peaceful.  It's probably nothing to be concerned about but I don't want to turn into a hermit.  That would be unhealthy.  But today I'll simply enjoy my peace and quiet day and get ready for the busy week ahead.

Another Mass Murder By Gunman

He walked into a church and shot and killed 9 people because they were black.  He is a 21 year old unemployed white man who had delusions of grandeur in his hate filled little mind.  He thought his cowardly act would make him somehow important.  
As he stood before the judge who was charging him with murder, he looked like a skinny kid and no-one you would look at twice.  He didn't look like a murderer...but he is now.

The families of the people he killed stood up to give an impact statement.  They cried but they forgive him and his immortal soul.  They refused to respond to their incredible loss with more hatred.  They are better people than I would ever be.

I think it's their religious training that opened their hearts and allowed them to forgive the skinny young man before them, the one who murdered their loved ones because of the color of their skin.  I admire them.  I wish I could be more like them.  They have no idea their words of forgiveness have settled in this old Canadian's mind and is giving her food for thought.  

He'll never pose a threat to anyone ever again because he'll spend the rest of his life in prison.  He might have thought his life was miserable before but he will find out what misery is when the other prisoners get their hands on him...and they will.

If this scrawny boy/man had not had access to a gun he would have limited his hatred to words and 9 innocent people would still be alive and their families wouldn't be mourning their loss.  If he had any self respect, he would have known that an armed man attacking innocent unarmed people is a supreme act of cowardice.

Brave people don't commit despicable acts like this...only the cowardly do it.  He was a coward with a gun and a heart filled with hate.  If only he hadn't had a gun.  If only...  

T-Ball 2015

I wasn't able to attend Nash's first 2 t-ball games this year (his first) but, when I went last night, I hoped the little ones would still be green enough to give us plenty of entertainment.  I was right!

This is Nolan's second year playing t-ball so he knew the ropes and was one of the star players.  He could hit the ball and knew enough to run to first base when he did.  I think most of the little ones, both boys and girls, were newbies who had trouble hitting the ball and, either stood there not moving or chased the ball they'd just hit into the infield.  It just warms your heart to see these little people trying to learn the game and it further warms your heart to watch the patient and dedicated parents and helpers who do their best to teach them.

One of the most endearing moments was when one little girl made it all around the bases to home base but, like a lot of the kids, didn't realize she was supposed to actually touch home base when she got there.  One of the fathers was the home base coach who tried to explain that she should touch the base but she didn't seem to understand so he put his foot on the base and pointed at it to demonstrate.  She still looked confused for a few moments and then tentatively put her little foot right on top of his.  How absolutely adorable!

These t-ball games never fail to impress anyone who watches them over the course of the summer.  Most of the children arrive wearing grossly oversized team shirts and with no idea how the game is played.  It is a joy to watch them learn and become confident.  Not all are stars but they don't have to be.

Nolan is too cool this year to play in the dirt during the game like he did last year but Nash made up for it.  At any time there were at least 3 or 4 kids digging in the dirt instead of watching and participating in the game.  Another 3 or 4 were having private conversations.  There was even one play where not one of Nash and Nolan's team were aware that the other team's batter had hit the ball and was running for first base.  This will all improve over the next 2 months, though, thanks to those wonderful volunteer parents and helpers.

Occasionally a player gets hurt and you hear wails coming from the field.  It's usually one little kid who got trampled in the gang rush to get the ball.  I didn't hear any wailing from kids who just wanted their mother, though.

It was a beautiful warm late spring evening to be out in the fresh air watching our youngest generation learning the value of sports.

Hate To Cook

I've mentioned before how all three of my daughters are gourmet cooks...all self taught because they sure didn't learn from me.

Shelley and I were shopping one day and we spotted this fridge magnet.  She bought it for me because it says all there is to say about my kitchen skills.

I'm actually not a horrible cook, just a disinterested one who has had more than her fair share of kitchen disasters.  This is one reason cooking is far from my favorite thing to do.  I tend to improvise with a recipe and that's where the disaster starts.  I once made a chicken liver meal that even my dog wouldn't eat.  The problem began when I substituted chicken livers for beef liver...apparently it made a big difference.

I also remember my children coming home in tears of embarrassment because they couldn't even give my home made cookies away at their school bake sale.  Now, wouldn't that destroy any cook's confidence?

I accept I'm not a good cook for anything but basic meals but basic meals are boring after a while.  That's why I prefer restaurants.

There is no guilt on my part for giving up cooking on a daily basis.  I am what I am! 

Gotten Out of Hand

Have you ever gotten carried away with something and realized it's gotten a little out of hand?  I have to admit it happens to me a lot but at least I recognize it fairly quickly and take steps to get better control of myself.

Today I got my hair cut ($30) and then got a pedicure ($41).  I have never paid that much for a pedicure in my life!!  I need them because callouses build up quickly on my feet and start to hurt if I don't have a pedicure but $41!!!!!  So, today I spent $71 on my appearance.  Both haircut and pedicure were necessary but the cost together is a little alarming.

I usually don't do both on the same day and my pedicures usually run around $25 so I'm a little shocked at how much I spent on myself today.  I won't let it happen again.

I have a habit of looking around my sweet little apartment or at my cute little car and giving thanks to Dennis who worked so hard all his life.  I often feel a bit guilty because it was his labor and not mine that has given me my comfortable life.  Today I walked into the apartment, remembered how much I'd just spent on myself and guiltily said "Sorry, Dennis!".

Recliner

Okay, so I searched and searched for a 2 arm chaise that I could afford but all were out of stock.  Then I decided that I'd settle for a recliner, hopefully one that was burgundy fabric and rocked.  Hmmm!  It's hard to find them in burgundy.

It's a good thing I don't really need one quickly or I'd probably settle for one in beige...may have to do it yet!  Not so bad now that I think about it.

You would think that, with all the stock furniture stores seem to carry, that I wouldn't have so much trouble but it always seems that I can't find something specific that I'm looking for.

When Dennis and I got married we bought the "$399 for 3 rooms" of furniture...livingroom, bedroom, and kitchen!  It fell apart quickly.  In the mid sixties we splurged on a T.V. in cabinet for $400...a lot of money in those days.  I cried for hours after finding a cigarette burn on the top caused by careless Dennis.  One more reason to never smoke!

I'm old fashioned and like flowered fabric but I'm being shamed out of it by my grandchildren so the only flowered piece of furniture I have now is the chair I'm looking to replace.  You can bet that by the time I buy this new chair in a plain beige, the styles will change and flowers will be back in.  Also, after I buy the chair, I'll see tons of burgundy chaise lounges with 2 arms.  Darn!

Update on Skin Cancer Surgery

I had the stitches out yesterday and already knew the scar was more visible than after the previous surgery done by my dermatologist.  She's a genius!

It's only been a bit more than a week since the surgery so there is still a lot of swelling around my lip.  Once that goes down and the scar given time to settle, it might all look okay.  

My dermatologist wants me to keep the scar covered for the next 3 months with a bandage called "Mepitac".  It has some kind of medication on the side that covers the scar but darned if there's anything on the box saying what the medication is.  I sort of think my nice dermatologist has shares in the product.

Anyway, the scar actually is less visible today than it was yesterday so either Mepitac or time is responsible.  Either way, I won't be sticking a bandage on my face for 3 fiddlin' months!  

Confused Sexual Identity

An article in this morning's newspaper sort of upset me.  It was the story of a very young boy whose parents are divorced.  The little boy likes pink and girl's toys so the mother encourages him to wear girl's clothing and refers to him as "her".  The father burnt the girl's clothing.

If this isn't a little boy who will grow up to have huge mental issues, I don't know what is.  Both parents are screwballs, making a young boy make monumental decisions about his sexual identity based on the child's choices of toys and color.  How ridiculous!

I was a major player in the lives of my grandsons and saw how some enjoyed playing with dolls.  So what?  Their father and grandfather were repelled by the idea but all my boys grew up to be heterosexual men.  My daughter loved playing with toy cars and trucks and she's a heterosexual woman.  A child's choice of toys or colors does not have anything to do with their sexual identity but, if a parent makes a big deal out of it, it will confuse the child so they don't know what the heck they are.

It's true that most parents begin early to push our little girls to play with feminine toys.  We push our little boys to play with more masculine toys.  If left to their own choices, children will simply choose what looks like more fun for them.

Also in today's newspaper, there is a large billboard showing a half naked person (sex undefined), put there to make us all aware of people who are neither male nor female.  Do we really need this or are we having it shoved down our throats by a small minority of people who can't decide what their sexual identity is going to be?

I don't much care about the adults who want to live as a different sex from the one they were born with but I do worry about the influence that mother has on her little boy.  It seems there's no way she won't confuse the hell out of that child and he's the one who will grow up to suffer the consequences.  My heart does go out to his father who is in a no-win situation.

Bruce Jenner's sexual identity change has made the news as though it's a wonderful thing he is doing.  Crap!  He's not a woman no matter how much cosmetic surgery or make-up he has.  He's a man who feels he'll be happier living as a pseudo-woman.  Good for him...but it's not normal.  Jenner is an adult who is free to make this choice but the little boy in question is a child under the possibly destructive care of his parents.

People are too quick to jump on bandwagons and might take a little boy's preference for the color pink as a sign he's really a little girl in a boy's body.  So very sad and so very stupid.  I hope so much that little boy survives his crazy parents but he's going to need some kind of counseling to do it.  

Why Are We Here?

This is probably an easy question for religious people to answer but not so easy for those of us who aren't.  We have to look at our world and try to figure it all our with our pathetic knowledge of the universe.

I do think we're here for a purpose because anything else is illogical.  That one person (God) sitting up in the sky somewhere is responsible for everything that happens on earth makes no sense.  Religious people like to imagine that their god does only good and that the devil (another silly depicted person) causes all the evil.  I say we human beings are responsible for all the good and evil that happens on earth.

I'm agnostic, not atheist, because I understand that none of us really know what is what so I leave my options open to when I will know...hope it happens at some point!

I've mostly learned what makes me happy.  Being gentle and kind raises me up while being a bitch drags me down where I don't like it and don't want to stay.  I'm way past the age where I care to impress anyone so my actions are as natural as they'll ever be.  I do what makes me happy and doesn't hurt anyone else.  That's where I'm in my comfort zone.

Yes, I do believe we're here for a reason but what it is I don't know.  It just doesn't make sense that we live for a finite number of years and then disappear.  Logic tells us that our life force carries on in some form.  How we've lived this life must have some influence on what comes in the afterlife.  It only makes sense.

The closest I've come to seeing what happens after death is when my husband died and I saw something like a mist burst from him and fill the room.  It solidified my belief that we don't just disappear after death.  The life force, or soul, is an entity that must exist forever.  It's interesting.

I'll be 75 years old in August so my time left on earth is pretty limited.  I could have a day or I could have 20 years so I have to make sure each day is a positive one.  I've spent too many days in my life that were negative, mostly by my own doing, so I'm going to do my best to make my remaining ones pleasant.  When you're happy it spreads to those who come in contact with you so my plan is to spread a little joy before I leave.

Why are we here?  Who knows, but we should make the best of it while it lasts.     

Healthy Attitude

One day many of us will be either a widow or a widower.  It's a matter of fact and the way we deal with it should be considered no matter how difficult it is to imagine.

It's understandable for a widow or widower to fall to pieces in the beginning of this journey but we should all aim for a healthier attitude.  Our lives can continue without our mates and they can be happy ones.  If our mates cared about us at all they would want us to gain strength and purpose to finish out our own lives in peace and happiness.

I'm a widow whose husband was the "doer" in our family.  When he passed away I discovered just how much he did around the house that I wasn't even aware of.  Those things still needed doing and I wasn't physically or mentally capable of doing it all so I found me a handyman.  Warning, ladies, a good and honest handyman/woman is not easy to find so you just might have to try a few before finding the one that is right for you.  I think the best option is to sell your house and move into an apartment or condo and then you don't have to worry about finding one at all.  My opinion only!

To a widow or widower...stay busy with hobbies, family, and friends.  The more people you socialize with, the quicker you'll come out of your grief and be able to function normally.  Grieving alone is a horribly debilitating state of mind.  

Feel comfortable to talk about your mate but don't dwell on him/her to the exclusion of other interests.  You'll need to rebuild the way you live your life but do it in small, purposeful steps.

Life has always been what you choose to make of it and being a widow or widower is no different.  Always choose to be happy and allow your grief to dissipate into fond memories.  You still have the rest of your life to live and it really can be a positive time.  

#1 Grandson is 31!

31 years have passed since Nick was born and there has never been a moment when he disappointed us.  He is, has been, and always will be a treasure.  

Kim and her husband tried for a few years to get pregnant without success so she took treatments to enhance her chances.  They didn't work but a year later she did get pregnant and I cried my eyes out with happiness when she told us.

Nick was a huge baby...11.1 pounds when born.  Kim wasn't a heavy girl so she was all tummy while pregnant.  We knew he'd be big but not that big!

I've adored this child from day one and adore him just as much today.  Funny how much love we're capable of because I've loved each additional grandchild and greatgrandchild just the same.  Apparently the ability to love has no limit.

Happy 31st birthday, my Nicholas!

I'm An Old Soul

Yup, it's true, I'm an old soul born at the dawn of time.  I took a test on Facebook (has to be scientifically accurate, right?) and found this out.

I have a philosophy that we keep coming back until we learn what we're here for so the fact that I've been coming back since the dawn of time means I'm a damned slow learner.

I'm not impressed.

Elementary School Curriculum

It's not my business any more how our children are taught in school but I do have my opinions.  I hate the idea of giving our little ones too much sex education because I want to keep them innocent as long as possible.  I'm not happy that too much school time is spent teaching them religion and French.  I honestly believe that time would be better spent teaching them to spell!

Now they're removing cursive writing from the curriculum.  So, what will they replace that with?  Our children are already learning math with a calculator and there is spell check on the computers they use.  I see them as adults in the future unable to solve problems in their heads!

If all these changes meant our children were being better educated, I'd just let it be but I see advertisements in stores and even on T.V. that are misspelled.  Cashiers can't make proper change from a sale if you try to add some coins after it's rung in the cash register.

I remember when the school board decided that teachers should stop teaching the little ones to read phonetically but to use only flash cards.  We all know how devastating that was to a whole generation of children (now in their 50's) who probably still have trouble reading.

The school boards have way too much power and mistakes by them have consequences that go on forever.  In the case of the new sex education curriculum, the school boards were able to convince enough free thinking (not necessarily sensible thinking) parents that their children should learn early about gay unions and sexual practices.  Since when does an 8 year old child need to be taught about gays??  I know they exist but so does polygamy, rape, and incest.  Just how much grade 2 school time should be diverted to learning about sexual practices?

Anyway, I'm an old gal with more rigid beliefs than parents of today.  But, what they allow their children to learn at an early age will probably be instrumental in causing those little children to practice adult behavior before they're intellectually ready for it.

We reap what we sow.
  

Deciding To Be Happy

When the surgeon walked into the operating room on Wednesday he was singing.  I mentioned that he must be a very happy man and he said he was.  I then said that we can always start our day by making the choice to be happy and he asked me how I started my day.  I said I always choose to be happy.

Some of my days fail the test, though, but I'm only human.  When I'm frightened or deeply worried it isn't easy to be happy even if that's what I'm consciously choosing.  I guess my point is that most of our days can be happy ones if we choose it to be so.

My singing surgeon was a joy to hear.  He wasn't going to be operating on me with misery in his heart and would most certainly do a better job because of his happy state of mind.  Don't we all??

This is how I see today:  Kim is healing and getting better every day.  Me, too!  Matt's finances seem to be in order now.  All of my adult grandchildren have jobs.  All of my children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren are pretty darned healthy.  We have a family filled with love and caring for each other.  I'm happily ensconced in my sweet little apartment.

When we consider all our blessings, we can handle the bad things that slip in now and then. 

Danger of Skin Cancer

I come from the generation where we had no idea of the dangers of sunbathing without sunscreen.  We enhanced our exposure to sunlight by applying baby oil to our skin or nothing at all.  Today, my generation is paying the price for that lack of knowledge.

My skin is pale and freckled and will burn easily.  Yesterday at the Mohs clinic, I noticed how many skin cancer patients have a similar skin type but I'm sure that isn't the only type that can develop skin cancer.  We're maybe the most at risk, though.

The first spot I noticed developed on my lower chest and I thought it was a wart.  My family doctor quickly identified it as skin cancer and immediately sent me to a dermatologist/skin cancer specialist.  The spot was surgically removed and never came back but it wasn't long before another spot on my forehead at the hairline showed up.  This, too, was surgically removed and so far has not returned.

The most horrific spot was on my lower lip and I chose to have it destroyed with radiation treatments.  It was a horrible, ugly, but not very painful experience but the spot is gone.

A spot showed up on my left lower arm and had to be surgically removed twice.  So far so good.

Another spot was on my cheek beside my nose...surgically removed.  The next was by my shoulder...surgically removed.
Then the last spot appeared on my cheek between my nose and lip...surgically removed twice before having Mohs to completely remove it.

I've resigned myself to knowing I'm prone to skin cancer and another could appear at any time.  I also know that it isn't the end of the world because both basal and squamous skin cancers are fairly easily dealt with.  The importance is to recognize them and see your dermatologist regularly if you do have one.  It's not pleasant but it's not deadly, either.

The biggest loss I've suffered from having the skin cancers is that I no longer can enjoy the feel of sunshine on my skin.  It worries me now and that's a shame.  I believe the skin damage was done in my younger years but I still feel in danger if I'm exposed to too much sunshine.

Skin cancer is not the worst thing that can happen to you but it's not to be taken lightly, either.  

    

My China Picture

This is the picture I bought in China in 1989 and just got it plaqued.  It's quite large so I'm going to wait for Don to hang it for me.

I really love the way it turned out and it's a pretty reminder of my special trip to China, a place I never expected to be able to go but Dennis and I went there on business all those years ago.  What a wonderful experience!

It's still wrapped in shrink wrap so that's why it shows the camera flash.  I guess there's some way for me to remove that with the computer but I'm not going to bother right now.  I hurt and need to lay down.

Mohs Surgery Done

Cindy and I left at 6 A.M. this morning to make sure we were at Women's College Hospital in Toronto on time for my 8:45 A.M. appointment.  We got there 1 1/2 hours early but you never know how bad traffic will get there.  I hate driving to and in Toronto!!

We checked in and were sent to the waiting room where about 5 or 6 other patients and their family members/friends sat.  Names were called and patients went out only to return about 20 minutes later with huge bandages on wherever their skin cancers were.  This is how the procedure works...the spot is frozen and the surgeon removes a sample for biopsy; you're sent back to the waiting room for about an hour while it is biopsied; if cancer cells are found on the edges they take a deeper sample and you're sent back to wait again.  If no cancer cells are detected on the edges you are stitched up and can go home.

My first sample seemed to show no cancer cells at all but there was evidence of skin cancer on the surface of my face.  When I was called back in they took another, deeper sample just to be sure and then stitched me up.  I was so thankful that it was in the exact spot my dermatologist had used before.

I'm a worrier and had worried for weeks that the surgeon would cut my whole face up taking out pounds of cancer cells.  Sounds stupid but that's how my mind works.  I am so very happy I was wrong and that the surgery is over but I'd do it all again if another skin cancer popped up.  I've had 7 of them so I'm prone to get more, apparently.

Skin cancer is not to be ignored but it's one of the easiest cancers to cure or control.  The 3 forms are basal, squamous, and melanoma.  Mine was squamous and therefore deeper than the basal which is usually just on the surface.  Melanoma is deeper than squamous and much more serious.

It doesn't make sense to me that we Ontarians have only 3 surgeons in the whole province that do Mohs surgery.  Mohs is the only kind of skin cancer surgery done in the States and you know it's done properly the first time you have surgery.  Here in Canada, the dermatologist will often be the first person to try to remove it surgically but they don't have the equipment to do the biopsy right in their office.  If cancer cells remain, it's another visit, another surgery, and another 2 week wait to see if they got it all.  Very inefficient.

I hate having these skin cancers but I'm ever thankful I don't have a worse kind of cancer.  I'm grateful for what is good in my life. 

Bad Drivers

We all see our share of bad drivers on the road every time we venture out.  It's always a riddle to me why anyone would wield their car in traffic as though they're invincible, though.  They tailgate and veer wildly out to cross lanes as though there's no chance of colliding with other cars.  Kim said she thinks drivers like this have never been in an accident and are totally unaware how quickly one can happen.  

An accident caused by them will usually end in a fine, loss of their vehicle while it's being repaired, car insurance hike or cancellation, and bodily harm to themselves or others.  How can playing stupid with your car be worth any of this?

I'm no angel in a car but I don't tailgate or change lanes unsafely.  I do drive about 10 miles over the speed limit but still get passed regularly by cars going faster than mine.  I don't hog the passing lane, either.  Slow drivers who do that probably cause as many accidents as speeders.

I love my car and the freedom it gives me to travel wherever my heart desires.  But I'm always aware that I'm propelling a potential deadly weapon and do it with safety in mind.

Cell phone use while driving makes no sense.  It's imperative that drivers keep their eyes on the road and not reading or sending texts.  I've even seen people reading a map and curling their hair while driving.  Idiots!

Now to complain about the construction all over my city!  I understand repairs have to be done but why does it take so long to complete some of them?  Drive by any road construction site (or any construction site) and you'll see 1 guy working and 10 watching.  One day all businesses are going to have to be efficient and not feeding at the public trough!   

My New Poster

This is the new poster I had plaqued.  It's Vincent Van Gogh's "Almond Tree In Blossom".  I bought it online because of the color...but I do love the picture itself, too.  Plaquing (not sure if that's a word) is so much less expensive than having a print or poster framed and I do believe it's all I'll ever do from now on.

The picture seems a little small for the spot where it's hung so I might move it somewhere else.  I have a few walls that need decorating so there are choices.

I just had another picture plaqued but it's still in the car...I had too much to carry up today so I'll bring it in tomorrow.  It's a really big one that Dennis and I got in China in 1989.  It came on a scroll and, because of the extra length, it never did get hung.  I decided to have only the picture and not the whole piece plaqued and it looks gorgeous.  Because it's been moved around so much there were a few creases but they're all gone now.  Excellent job by "Staples"!  

The new one is also a floral scene with a few Chinese characters on it.  I wish I knew what they meant.  In any case, it turned out very well and it probably will be hung on a wall in my bedroom.

My next print/poster project will be 4 Hubble photos.  I like wall decor that makes me smile when I look at it.

The Weather

Everyone complains about the weather...it's too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry.  So far this spring we've had days of lovely warm/hot weather followed by darned cold weather.  I don't like the cold in the winter and I really hate it in the other seasons!

Yesterday was one miserable day.  It was cold, windy, and rainy.  And I had to go out in it because it was the day of Gary's memorial service.  The memorial service was truly wonderful, though.  I met and hugged relatives I seldom see and it was lovely how many family and friends came to the service.  Most of the family went back to Faye's for a while but I only stayed an hour.  I just wanted to get home and enjoy the solitude.  These family occasions are nice but I can only take so much of crowds and then I have to get away from it.

Anyway, Shelley, John, Kim, Faye, Valerie, and I are going out for brunch this morning and then Shelley and John have to leave for home.  I'm taking Kim for bloodwork and then will come back home for a nap.  I was up real early this morning.

Just 2 days until my surgery and I'm worried, fearful, and resigned to handle it the best I can.